Race Weekend Central

Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2009 Pocono 500

The tricky triangle in Pocono threw everything at the drivers but the kitchen sink. There was rain, a new double-file restart procedure and even a late-race fuel-mileage gamble thrown in for good measure. As you might expect, with that many variables the final running order was turned upside down after 500 miles of competition. But …

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Happy Hour’s Best Drivers in NASCAR, Part 1: Drivers #15-11

Being the Official Columnist of NASCAR is not an easy job. It’s not a matter of simply handing over a few million to NASCAR, as with most “official” entities. It takes effort. Column topics must be selected with care as opposed to just hitting the escape key and writing something about Dale Earnhardt Jr. when …

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Frontstretch NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After the 2009 Autism Speaks 400 at Dover

While Jimmie Johnson was completely dominant at Dover, he wasn’t the only one with a stellar Sunday at the Monster Mile. Our experts actually rewarded a different driver with the top spot this week, keeping the three-time champ from assuming the throne he’ll so desperately seek by Homestead. At the same time, some people who …

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Who’s Hot/Who’s Not in Sprint Cup: 2009 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Edition

The conclusion of the Anti-Climatic 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Monday leaves the NASCAR fanbase wondering exactly which driver should have won. Since the race began in the middle of the day on Monday instead of early in the evening on Sunday, drivers did not have to encounter as many changes in track conditions as …

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Frontstretch Fantasy Insider: Bristol on the Juice… How to Survive Dover’s Monster Mile

Leaving the Beast of the Southeast behind in a flood of rain, the Cup circuit heads to the aptly titled “Monster Mile” that is Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile high-banked concrete oval that lives up to its reputation as a Bristol on steroids. The high-speed facility is one of the more treacherous circuits on the …

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Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2009 World 600 at Charlotte

The Key Moment: David Reutimann stayed out when a caution flew for rain. The precipitation never stopped and Reutimann reigned at Charlotte. In a Nutshell: After 24 hours plus at Charlotte, Mother Nature turned a stock car race into a high-dollar game of musical chairs. Dramatic Moment: Waiting to see if the weather would relent …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

David Reutimann won Monday’s Coke 600, despite scratching up the right side of the No. 00 Aaron’s Toyota. Crew chief Rodney Childers’s call for the ‘Franchise’ to stay out instead of pitting before the race’s final caution flag put the Michael Waltrip Racing driver in the lead ahead of Ryan Newman, Robby Gordon and Carl Edwards. The crew chiefs of all of these entries deserve three thumbs up for playing the Mother Nature card and snagging top-five finishes.

David Reutimann Wins Rain-Shortened 2009 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. – You can’t fool Mother Nature. Try as they might, NASCAR was unable to keep the racetrack dry after the final of four rain showers that doused the speedway today. After 227 laps, 340 and a half miles, the race was called official and David Reutimann played pit strategy, staying out when the …

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Fanning the Flames: Talking All-Stars, 600s & Lawnmowers

Totally unrelated to anything NASCAR (or racing in general), but if you’re in the market for a lawnmower, go with the Murray. My fiancé and I were victims of a flash flood a week ago and the lawn mower was submerged – completely submerged – for a good two hours. Five days later, after emptying …

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